Updates

Wow!!! Where does the time go?!?!? Seems like just yesterday we had a newborn at home and look at him now! Caleb is doing great! He weighs about 27 pounds and is about 34 inches tall. He has almost a full mouth of teeth and is walking, running, and climbing. It's hard to keep up with him. He loves being outside and would spend all of his time outdoors if he could. He also loves animals and anything with an engine or a steering wheel - such a boy! He eats all regular food now and some of his favorites are cheeseburgers, pizza, spaghettios, tomatoes, and fruit. He's also recently discovered sauces and will eat anything dipped in ketchup or ranch dressing! We've been keeping busy this spring. Our latest undertaking was tilling up our backyard and replanting grass in order to get rid of the big holes the dogs had dug and get some good grass for Caleb to have a play area. Darrin has been extremely busy with planting season and has been putting in many long hours - 25 hours of overtime some weeks. I have been getting busier with First Steps - I now have 4 kids on my caseload and I'm also tutoring a little boy in handwriting. As far as my crazy medical things, the Rheumatolgist has discovered I have sacroiliitis (inflammation in my hip joints), which could be a result of pregnancy/childbirth or could still possibly be Psoriatic Arthritis. I'm on some medication now that is really helping, and I'll have a follow up appointment in 3 months. So, it's always interesting!

Children's Museum Again

Caleb and I went back the Children's Museum, this time with my sister Michaela. He had even more fun this time. Many of the things he couldn't do before, he did this time. I don't know who had more fun, Caleb or Michaela!

Spring Break in Kansas

Once again at Spring Break time we packed up and headed off to Kansas. Caleb is getting to be a pro when it comes to traveling. He had a few fussy spells, but overall did great! We had a wonderful trip and Caleb got to enjoy some new experiences. His favorite part by far was exploring the farm. He spent time on the Robert's Farm (Darrin's family) and the Popp Farm (my mom's family). Some of the highlights for him were the 4 wheeler, tractor, the scooter, goats, cats, dogs, cows and calves, and his first Easter egg hunt. Some of the not so highlights - eating goat poop (YUCK - I tried to stop him but wasn't quick enough) and numerous bumps to the head. Overall, we were busy, busy, busy but it was a great trip!

Our first night we stopped in Kansas City to visit my Aunt Diana and my cousin and her kids. Caleb had a ball playing with his second cousins!

Caleb's first Easter egg hunt was quite interesting. We put the eggs out while he watched us. He wasn't quite sure what to do. However, it got WAY more motivating when he opened one to discover there was an M&M in each egg. He still got easily distracted, so we also tried throwing/rolling the eggs right in front of him as he walked. Overall, it was a very entertaining success!

Chillin' with Grandma Deanna

Caleb is definitely his daddy's boy (as if there was any doubt with his looks) - he is obsessed with anything with an engine. He LOVED the 4wheeler and the tractors! He sure is a little farm boy. It's amazing how some kids are just born that way. He threw a fit any time we had to go inside or if anyone went out without him.

Grandpa Garry and his Lil' farmhand

One of my highlights from the trip was getting to visit a friend of my Aunt's that raises burros. They were adorable - especially the babies. They were so tame and loved attention.

Caleb and the goats or "kitties" as he called them. He calls every animal "kitty"...so that's all we heard most of the time! =) This is also the scene of the goat poop eating incident. Judging by the face he made, I don't think he'll try that again!

Our little John Deere boy! I think he will grow up thinking all tractors are green...his dad would say there's nothing wrong with that!

Caleb got to ride the scooter on the Popp farm and when we were done, he just kept signing "more", "more", "more". He really loved it, when Aunt Shirley turned it on while it was in park, so he could pretend to drive. He knows what a steering wheel is for.

Visiting Uncle Pat - College Boy!

We took a weekend to go visit my brother Pat and see his school for the first time. So, off we went to Wilmington, Ohio - about 45 minutes from Cincy. Caleb had a blast exploring his dorm room - there was no way he could mess it up! =) Caleb also got a tour of the Ag farm and Equine facility. He saw lots of "kitties" (kitty is his only word for animals, so that's what we heard with every goat, sheep, cow, horse, chicken, pig we saw).

Spring has Sprung!

We have been loving this spring weather! Caleb is already an outdoorsman...there are always tears when we have to come inside. There is a really nice park with lots of open space in Tipton, where Caleb's babysitter lives, and we often stop to play on our way home from the sitter's. He likes to play on the playground, but his favorite activity is just to explore - such a boy!

First Trip to the Children's Museum

Despite being a little apprehensive, my friend Lisa and I took a rainy day and took Caleb to the Children's Museum for the first time. He LOVED it!!! He explored everything and was exhausted by the end of the afternoon. His favorite activity was the water table - he ended up soaked! He also had his first "altercation" with another child, and it broke his heart. This little boy's mom said Caleb could get up in the Bob the Builder truck with her son, and apparently, her son didn't think so. Caleb no sooner stepped up there then the other boy hit him....Caleb turned to me and burst into tears. I don't think he could figure what happened. It about broke my heart too. Luckily, little minds soon forget and the tears dried quickly.

Never a Dull Moment

Well, we've had lots of bumps and bruises, but this was the first time we had to take off to the doctor's office to make see if we needed a stitch. Caleb was playing with the clean laundry in the basket as I was folding it and when I turned my back he leaned to far over the edge, tipped the basket and cut the corner of his eye on a toy chest. Luckily, the doctor decided it would scar worse if it was stiched because it would pucker the skin too much. Caleb was a trooper and it hasn't slowed him down any!